H13 Steel Properties and Heat Treatment

If you know about the steel, even just a little bit, you must know something about H13 steel. And H13 steel belongs to the stand of AISI / SAE of the United States. It is hot work mold steel and be used widely in the mold industry. It has own special properties due to the different chemical composition.

H13 Steel Chemical Composition:

Carbon (C): 0.32%-0.45 %

Chromium (Cr): 4.75%-5.50%

Molybdenum (Mo): 1.10%-1.75%

Silicon (Si): 0.80%-1.20%

Vanadium (V): 0.80%-1.20%

Nickel (Ni): 0.3%

Copper (Cu): 0.25%

Manganese (Mn): 0.20%-0.50%

Phosphorus (P): 0.03%

Sulfur (S): 0.03%

H13 steel equivalent grade in China is 4Cr5MoSiV1. Because it has high impact resistance and hardenability, it can handle the needs of big molds. At the type of H steel, H13 tool steel includes 1% vanadium. All properties are good, so become a popular choice in the industry. And at the condition of molds water cooling, it has great impact resistance to handle the low-temperature situation.

It’s alloy and carbon element content is lower than others, so the process of forging is quite easy. In the process of forging and heat treatment, it is easy to get crackles or other bad things. It must be through the forging to eliminate aeolotropism. We must anneal it after forging to eliminate the forging stress. To decrease its hardness and raise cutting machining properties. Make the constitution get better and be ready for final heat treatment.

The best temperature for forging is 1100℃ – 1160℃. And the notes during the forging process as blow.

1. Ensure uniform heating, burn through, and do not allow overheating to avoid forging cracks.
2. The forging ratio must less than 3
3. After forging, you can use air cooling or annealing it at the right time.